رجل عمره ٤٨ سنة في العناية بعد إصابة رأس، منبب، وضغط الجمجمة ٢٠ ملم زئبق. في اليوم الثالث صارت حرارته ٣٩٫٢، والنبض ١١٢. الطبيب يبحث عن مصدر العدوى. لماذا يهتم الممرض بخفضها؟

A 48-year-old intubated ICU client after head injury has ICP 20 mmHg. On day 3 his temperature rises to 39.2 °C and HR to 112 while the team looks for infection. Why is the nurse concerned to lower it?

1. Fever after injury means meningitis
2. Fever only raises the blood glucose
3. Fever raises brain oxygen demand and worsens injury
4. Fever greatly lowers intracranial pressure

Answer: C) Fever raises brain oxygen demand and worsens injury. Fever increases cerebral metabolism and oxygen demand, worsening secondary injury and ICP. It is treated with antipyretics and cooling while the cause is sought.